"Let someone else fight that battle. Been there, done that. That's old stuff. I am here — now. I don't want to be reminded of things that happened a hundred years ago."

"I want to sit at a table on Main Street and have a beer."

"I never read those plaques on buildings. Does anyone really think I have time to read a sign to learn how many barbershops have occupied a building?"

"You got that right. They keep saying Historic Downtown. What is so historic? Just because something is old doesn't make it historic. I go to the mall anyway."

"They should have made a parking garage where that old historic courthouse is. I have never been in the place."

"My neighbor says all you see is war stuff. I think they spent too much money on all that."

"What's it to me? People from out of town don't care about local history."

"And that Apple Festival — just a lot of out-of-town vendors selling junk and apple fritters."

"And those stupid improvements of Main Street — I liked it when the street was straight. Not winding like a snake."

"All this talk about art on Main — I guess the next thing we'll see is a statue of a naked woman."

"And have you noticed how inconvenient it is to get from one end of Main Street to the other? I thought they said it would be finished by mid-May. Now I read there's going to be a delay."

"Say, aren't you on one of those committees?"

"Who in his right mind would want a d--- clock tower? That's so '50s!"

"Now where I came from, we had decent schools. The students didn't get by with all they do now. And as for all those people who think Mills River ought to stay as it was and not allow commercial development — well, they must never have had to raise a family."

"I don't care how cutesy it may sound. I don't like calling my town Hooterville."

"Too bad."

"And anyone who thinks we're another Mayberry better look twice."

"Where are our original ideas? So Asheville does it a certain way, or Greenville? I ask you, what is it that makes our town different?"

"And for those who boast they never come to Hendersonville or shop Main Street, have they forgotten that Hendersonville is the county seat, established in 1847?"

"Well, right back at you — has Main Street forgotten that it should reflect the entire county? What about that water fountain? Every day I hear another complaint about ‘that thing.' "

"Why not wait to see what the final product is — with the brick veneer and water cascading down copper mountains."

"Well, I'm writing a play about the history of Henderson County to be performed this summer."

"I sure do hope it's not too artsy-fartsy. … Just tell it like it is."

"Good advice — this afternoon I will attend the ceremony at the Justice Center, the former Edneyville High School. I can't fully explain why I need to be present. I didn't attend school there."

"Who cares anything about those old one-room schools? Our students need to know how to make a living, not waste their time with all that music and art stuff. It's nice, but it won't put food on the table."

"I measure a man by how much sweat he shows. Those schoolteachers all live in a dream world. Give me one good reason why we should preserve our local education history?"

"I hear they're going to restore that old McClintock clock, corner of Fourth and Main."

"It's about time."

I should be out celebrating the advent of spring, not sitting in front of a computer.

I think I will visit the Heritage Museum. I hear there are some exciting things going on down there. And after that, I'm going to the curb market, and after that the Genealogical Society — and after that …

"Hey, mister, you're getting a little defensive, don't you think?"

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.